Rent Marlowe (2022)

A real let down - Marlowe review by sb

FILM & REVIEW Neil Jordan’s first film in several years and I really wanted to like it but unfortunately it’s not very good. Neesan plays the titular private eye in late ‘30’s LA. In classic noir fashion he is hired by mysterious blonde (Kruger)to find her errant missing lover but of course she has other ulterior motives and Marlowe finds himself deep into corrupt film studios, high class brothels, narcotics and Mexican hoods. Neesan is way too old for the role ( something the script acknowledges) but the films biggest issue for all the plot twists and reveals in never engages….at no point are you remotely interested in where it’s all going. Things aren’t helped by Neesan who seems not only bored with the plot but with the film itself - something that is conveyed to the audience which really is a fatal flaw. On the plus side there are some nice supporting turns -Jessica Lange as a has been actress who still has her wits about her, Donald Huston as a suave club owner and a very arch Alan Cummins but none of this can save the film - a real letdown - 2/5

Dull Film Noir - Marlowe review by GI

An attempt to make a genuine hard boiled detective film noir that looks good in its recreation of a 1930s Hollywood but lacks any spark. It's a rather droll and clichéd film with Liam Neeson far too old and tired looking to carry off the tough private eye. This is particularly evident in the rather poorly choreographed fight scenes and lacklustre plot reveals. The titular Marlowe is hired by the usual dodgy wealthy woman (Diane Kruger) who wants her lover found. He was supposedly killed outside a club after falling in the road drunk and getting himself run over. But Marlowe soon believes that he's not really dead. Anyway once this becomes the main thread of the story the remainder of the film plods along with nothing very exciting happening. There's the usual host of characters that have some agenda or other including Jessica Lange and Danny Huston. I'm sorry but it's about time Neeson wakes up to the fact he's no longer credible in an action role even when it's mediated by a dreary plot. A dull film and instantly forgotten.

An enjoyable but not particularly demanding Noire themed film, with style to spare - Marlowe review by TB

Having never watched a Noire thriller before, but instead played LA Noire, a computer game which unashamedly takes many of the themes, I was interested to see what this film would hold. Plus, the fact it was directed by Neil Jordan & starred Liam Neeson was also a strong selling point. 

As a film, I always enjoyed what was on screen, but it was never anything more than a fairly gentle paced story with a few curveballs thrown in. The recreation of LA in the 30’s was perfectly done, which is even more staggering when you consider all the outdoor scenes were shot in Spain. A huge number of the clichés which were associated with the Noire crime drama are present & correct, but are never shoehorned in, sitting instead comfortably within the narrative. The film is also a lot less violent than I was expecting. 

But it was only ever average. The story is a shallow as a kids swimming pool & if you are looking for deep meaning or profound scenes, then you’re watching the wrong film. This is a perfectly serviceable, relatively inoffensive hour 40 of watching different talented actors interact with each other, with some good staging & locations.